Joy
Components Just as peace is not calmness, joy is not happiness; even the miserable are happy upon the birth of their first child. Joy is a persistent state attained by accepting every moment without assigning expectations and imposing judgment. Admittedly, it is a tall task, but consciously practicing gratitude and maintaining positivity reduces our impulse […]
Peace Be In You
Defined People think they have peace when they dwell in an infrequent tranquil period when things are “right” and they are relaxed. It is not found in a vacation from the office with toes in warm sand listening to the crashing waves. While you may be calm and happy, you are not necessarily peaceful. Peace […]
Your Mantra
The Case for It In each of the blog’s first two years, I provided you with a four-part expose on my guiding life principles and values, which, judging from reader feedback, met with a resounding thud. Therefore, this message is more about “why” and “how” than “what.” We start by examining the need to establish […]
Reflections
The Shift Today, I feel like Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez gushing over their latest albums and declaring they are milestones in their musical maturation. As I conclude the blog’s second year, my objective remains the same, but my approach has evolved. I remain committed to providing useful messages on meaningful subjects that lead one […]
The Next Step
Should I? We are told not to limit our ambition, and our minds race to becoming President, inventing the next Spanx, or owning a private island in the Caribbean. Regretfully, we do not immediately consider becoming spouse or parent of the year. Aside from our misplaced priorities, we have not even been elected as the […]
Measure Twice, Cut Once
What to Do? Now is the time of the year when the gurus tell us to formulate our New Year’s resolutions or goals. If you are not a goal-setter, I can only say, “In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia” (author unknown). Rather than simply […]
Keep Your Filthy Lucre
Really? What a counterintuitive title for a message on generosity. At the mere suggestion of generosity, we anticipate a monetary solicitation and instinctively look to ensure we firmly fastened our purse’s clasp. However, money may be the last element of generosity. First, Why… Generosity is alternatively considered a personal obligation or a byproduct of gratitude, […]
Attitude of…
…Gratitude This trite saying, even though true, gets on my nerves like fingernails scraping on a chalkboard (is that still a thing?), especially when I want to wallow in my misery. At the same time, grateful people are psychologically and physically healthier than the ungrateful, making gratitude worthy of pursuit. Whatever For? When asked, our […]
Let’s Get It On
This message is not a tribute to Marvin Gaye’s beseeching ballad or a Cosmopolitan magazine how-to-please-your-lover guide but one designed to stimulate thinking about our sexual indulgences. If there is ever a subject about which I might feel imposter syndrome, this is it. Well, here we go… Perception v. Reality When you consider the time […]
It is a Lifestyle
They Got it Together! Researchers have identified Blue Zones, where people enjoy long, healthy lives, and the factors contributing to their longevity: consumption, movement, purpose, and social connection. More important than the number of years is the quality. Blue Zoners generally do not outlive their good health; they are on the go until the end. […]